Method and apparatus for concealing errors in a video decoding process

Abstract

A method for concealing errors in a video decoding process according to the invention, wherein said method comprises the steps of: receiving a frame of video picture comprising an comprising an error-existing picture area and a neighboring picture area; searching a similar picture area to said neighboring picture area according to a predetermined condition in a frame of reference picture of said video picture; concealing said existing errors by using the information in said video picture if said similar picture area is not found, or concealing said existing errors by using the information in said reference picture if said similar picture area is found.

1 . A method for concealing errors in a video decoding process, comprising the steps of:
 (a) receiving a frame of video picture comprising an error-existing picture area and a neighboring picture area;   (b) searching a similar picture area to said neighboring area corresponds according to a predetermined condition in a frame of reference picture of said video picture for; and   (c) concealing said existing errors by utilizing the information in said video picture if said similar picture area is not found.   
   
   
       2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 (d) concealing said existing errors by utilizing the information in said reference picture if said similar picture area is found.   
   
   
       3 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein step (d) comprises the steps of:
 finding an error-correcting picture area corresponding to said similar picture area in said reference picture according to the neighboring relation between said error-existing picture area and said neighboring picture area; and   concealing said existing errors according to the information in said error-correcting picture area.   
   
   
       4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:
 i. determining a corresponding picture area of said neighboring picture area in said reference picture; and   ii. searching for said similar picture area in the predetermined picture zone containing said corresponding picture area according to said predetermined condition.   
   
   
       5 . The method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein step (ii) comprises the steps of:
 iii. obtaining the sum of the absolute values of the pixel differences between each particular picture area in said predetermined picture zone and said neighboring picture area, the size of said particular picture area being the same as that of said neighboring picture area;   iv. comparing the smallest sum of the absolute values with a preset threshold; and   V. determining whether the particular picture area with said sum of the absolute values is said similar picture area according to the result of the comparison and said predetermined condition.   
   
   
       6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said predetermined condition is that the particular picture area with said smallest sum of the absolute values is not said similar picture area if said smallest sum of the absolute values is greater than said preset threshold. 
   
   
       7 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said predetermined condition is that the particular picture area with said smallest sum of the absolute values is said similar picture area if said smallest sum of the absolute values is smaller than said preset threshold. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for concealing errors in a video decoding process, comprising:
 a receiving means for receiving a frame of video picture comprising an error-existing picture area and a neighboring picture area; a searching means for searching a similar picture area to said neighboring picture area corresponds according to a predetermined condition in a frame of reference picture of said video picture; and   a spatial error concealment means for concealing said existing errors by using the information in said video picture if said similar picture area is not found.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising a temporal error concealment means for concealing said existing errors by using the information in said reference picture if said similar picture area is found. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said searching means comprises:
 a positioning means for determining a corresponding picture area of said neighboring picture area in said reference picture;   an obtaining means for obtaining the sum of the absolute values of the pixel differences between each particular picture area in the predetermined picture zone containing said corresponding picture area and said neighboring picture area, the size of the particular picture area being the same as that of said neighboring picture area;   a comparing means for comparing the smallest sum of the absolute values with a preset threshold; and   a determining means for determining whether the particular picture area with said sum of the absolute values is said similar picture area according to the result of the comparison and said predetermined condition.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said predetermined condition is that the particular picture area with said smallest sum of the absolute values is not said similar picture area if said smallest sum of the absolute values is greater than said preset threshold. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said predetermined condition is that the particular picture area with said smallest sum of the absolute values is said similar picture area if said smallest sum of the absolute values is smaller than said preset threshold.